Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential Nominee Tim Walz has come forward to defend his military record after facing attacks from Republicans regarding his service in the Army National Guard. Speaking at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union convention in Los Angeles, Walz expressed pride in his military background and denounced any attempts to discredit his service.

Walz addressed claims made by Republicans, including JD Vance, who accused him of misrepresenting his military record and falsely suggesting that he evaded an overseas deployment. The Governor firmly stated that he was "proud to have served his country and always will be." He received loud applause from the audience as he outlined his time in the military, which began with him joining the Nebraska Army National Guard at the age of 17 and culminated in 24 years of service with the National Guard. He also highlighted his work on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee during his tenure as a member of Congress.

In response to criticisms from Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign, which acknowledged that Walz misspoke about handling assault weapons "in war" during a 2018 campaign event, Walz emphasized his pride in his military service and expressed that no one should denigrate another person's service record. He extended gratitude towards anyone who has served in the military, including his opponent, by stating, "Thank you for your service and sacrifice."

Vance's attacks on Walz's military record have sparked controversy, with Vance accusing Walz of "stolen valor." However, Vance clarified that he was not criticizing Walz's actions while serving but rather his statements about his record. In an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Vance argued that Walz had lied about his service for political gain. Vance further expressed openness to a debate and reiterated his criticisms in a social media post directed at Walz.

Walz's defense of his military record comes amidst accusations from Republicans and some veterans who served alongside him. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin, who was Walz's superior and a longtime critic, claimed that Walz dodged his deployment to Iraq by retiring prior to his unit's deployment. Walz has faced similar accusations before, prompting him to address the claims personally during his first congressional campaign in 2006. He emphasized at the time that using innuendo to defame a candidate's character had no place in political discourse and called for a better approach to addressing important issues facing the nation.

This latest development in Walz's military record controversy highlights the importance of transparency and accuracy when discussing one's service history. As the Vice Presidential Nominee, Walz continues to defend his record and express gratitude towards those who have served their country.